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Topic: Oh Blimey I bought a CNC Lathe !!!! (Read 200477 times)

I've been casting around for a CNC lathe a bit bigger and better equipped than the Eagland Chipturn that I've recently rebuilt and I stubbed my toe on a Traub TND 350G with a dead Mitsubishi TX8F control. Weighing in at 4055 kgs with I believe an 18Kw main spindle, an auxillary spindle of similar power, a 12 position tool post, and even a 'C' axis on the main spindle it's quite a monster! I thought I might try replacing the controller with a LinuxCNC box, but I'll have a go first at repairing the TX8F as it seems a very capable control, if a bit obscure when it comes to finding information.

It only just squeezed into the space left in my workshop, but there is room to work round it and the loo door ALMOST fully opens <G>

If anyone knows these machines or especially the Mitsubishi controller I'd be keen to hear from you

..he...he .... it even has an air conditioning unit built into the end cabinet to keep the electronics comfy ! Just moving the swarf conveyor into place took four of us and that with machine skates.

Rob :No need for machine envy until (if) I get it working - up to that point it's a potential liability.

To be honest it's a bit scary contemplating turning it on - certainly don't want to until I know a bit more about the controller, and how to disable the (enormous) axis drives - don't want things slamming around and self destructing.

Vtsteam: memory back up on the controller is by built in battery pack - seems boot memory is in eeproms, but I've not dug too deeply yet

Fortunately I have a floppy disk with the machine parameters in a win readable file which is a major bonus

Vtsteam: memory back up on the controller is by built in battery pack - seems boot memory is in eeproms, but I've not dug too deeply yet

I just mentioned the internal battery backup chips because they caused an Anilam Crusader controller to fail at a place where I worked. I figured the problem out after the mill had been used only manually for 2 years. Replaced the chips with new ones and the controller worked again

They do appear to be eeproms, but their construction is that of a battery backed up static ram.

Anyway, thought I'd mention it. Check the chip ID carefully against datasheets to make sure, if you can.

Fortunately a highly professional moving team shifted it - they were delivering a replacement machine to the people I bought it from and had to shift it anyway, they just put it at my place rather than their warehouse. Huge articulated lorry carrying 10 ton forklift and two very helpful and skilled chaps.

As far as I can tell the air conditioner just keeps the electronics cool, but I've yet to open all the access hatches to have a look see.

The floor is 6" of C35 high strength concrete with weld mesh embedded floating on 50mm of polystyrene insulation and hasn't moved with all the abuse I've given it in the last five years so far!

Well I got them to install three phase in exchange for access for re-cabling their poles & transformer so that was f.o.c. and I got them to put in a heavier supply so when eventually I re-commission my 100kva induction furnace I can run off the grid rather than run my 100kva generator as I did at the last place we moved from. Obviously the running costs are significant if used often but in reality it's fairly infrequent.

Rob: Plan 'B' is to create a controller using http://www.linuxcnc.org/ but I'd much rather fix the current controller if poss as it has lots of bells and whistles I'd have to emulate. Plan 'C' is to break it which is obviously a last resort but would probably be quite profitable (how much do 18KW inverters and servos go for !!)

Adev: I have a long history of buying silly things !!! It all started 30 years ago with a three engined three seater Hoverair Hoverhawke hovercraft http://www.landairandsea.com/exhibits/Hoverhawk which was what started me buying machines to make bits to fix it.

Yesterday I grafted the Mitsubishi controller back into the beast, and managed to locate for certain all the connections to it bar two.

This morning I've buzzed out the two unidentified connections and got them in the right places. Also connected up the swarf conveyor (3 ph motor drive, HP coolant pump, LP coolant pump) and also the hydraulic power pack and am having a cup of coffee prior to taking the plunge and connecting mains to it. If the grid drops out in 20 mins blame me !